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Assorted stories from WRVO-FMenCopyright 2014 NPR - For Personal Use OnlyNPR API RSS Generator 0.94Fri, 25 Apr 2014 05:34:00 -0400http://media.npr.org/images/stations/logos/wrvo_fm.gifWRVO-FM: seniorshttp://www.npr.org
What seniors should consider when deciding whether to move Moving out of a home and into senior housing may be a difficult decision. But with a wide variety of options available today, seniors can plan ahead...Fri, 25 Apr 2014 05:34:00 -0400http://wrvo.org/post/what-seniors-should-consider-when-deciding-whether-move
http://wrvo.org/post/what-seniors-should-consider-when-deciding-whether-move Moving out of a home and into senior housing may be a difficult decision. But with a wide variety of options available today, seniors can plan ahead...222no Moving out of a home and into senior housing may be a difficult decision. But with a wide variety of options available today, seniors can plan ahead...

]]>Upstate University Hospital offers seniors calmer ER experience Upstate University Hospital's Community Campus will be opening up a new emergency room next week that caters to seniors. The goal behind the new E.R. atWed, 26 Jun 2013 09:26:21 -0400http://www.wrvo.org/post/upstate-university-hospital-offers-seniors-calmer-er-experience
http://www.wrvo.org/post/upstate-university-hospital-offers-seniors-calmer-er-experience Upstate University Hospital's Community Campus will be opening up a new emergency room next week that caters to seniors. The goal behind the new E.R. at78no Upstate University Hospital's Community Campus will be opening up a new emergency room next week that caters to seniors. The goal behind the new E.R. at

]]>Mobile app prototype targets readmission rates, aims to lower ER and insurance costsA new mobile app is expected to help improve the quality of patient care across the nation. A team of University at Buffalo students have created it toTue, 28 May 2013 16:08:06 -0400http://www.wrvo.org/post/mobile-app-prototype-targets-readmission-rates-aims-lower-er-and-insurance-costs
http://www.wrvo.org/post/mobile-app-prototype-targets-readmission-rates-aims-lower-er-and-insurance-costsA new mobile app is expected to help improve the quality of patient care across the nation. A team of University at Buffalo students have created it to108noA new mobile app is expected to help improve the quality of patient care across the nation. A team of University at Buffalo students have created it to

]]>Medicare advocates worried about possible costs to seniors<p>Medicare will look different a year from now, as the Affordable Care Act goes into effect.&#160; But, Medicare advocates are worried about some potential changes to the program that pays for health care for the elderly.<!--break--></p><p>Joe Baker is president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national non-profit that works towards affordable access to health care for older Americans.&#160; He told a group of health care advocates in Syracuse recently that the thing that worries him right now, is talk about how to make Medicare more financially stable.<br>&#160;<br>"Most policy makers and legislators are using the phrase, like we need to make sure people with Medicare have more' skin in the game.'&#160; And what that means is they should be paying more for health care, and if they are paying more they will use less care and that will bring costs down," said Baker. "The problem with that is they will use less care, but they will use less necessary care because they won't be able to afford it."<br><br>Baker says the answer to Medicare's woes, is to cut costs, by doing things like having the government negotiate better prices for prescription drugs, and changing the way health care is delivered.<br><br>"Not paying for the latest, most expensive drug but looking at other effective therapies.&#160; Not using the most expensive technology first.&#160; Using other technologies," suggested Baker.<br><br>He noted that a year from now, people will be starting to enroll into Affordable Care Act exchanges, and some of the changes included in that legislation will start to take place. Baker spoke in Syracuse recently as part of a Health Foundation for Western and Central New York forum.</p>Thu, 15 Nov 2012 05:41:00 -0500http://www.wrvo.fm/post/medicare-advocates-worried-about-possible-costs-seniors
http://www.wrvo.fm/post/medicare-advocates-worried-about-possible-costs-seniors<p>Medicare will look different a year from now, as the Affordable Care Act goes into effect.&#160; But, Medicare advocates are worried about some potential changes to the program that pays for health care for the elderly.<!--break--></p><p>Joe Baker is president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national non-profit that works towards affordable access to health care for older Americans.&#160; He told a group of health care advocates in Syracuse recently that the thing that worries him right now, is talk about how to make Medicare more financially stable.<br>&#160;<br>"Most policy makers and legislators are using the phrase, like we need to make sure people with Medicare have more' skin in the game.'&#160; And what that means is they should be paying more for health care, and if they are paying more they will use less care and that will bring costs down," said Baker. "The problem with that is they will use less care, but they will use less necessary care because they won't be able to afford it."<br><br>Baker says the answer to Medicare's woes, is to cut costs, by doing things like having the government negotiate better prices for prescription drugs, and changing the way health care is delivered.<br><br>"Not paying for the latest, most expensive drug but looking at other effective therapies.&#160; Not using the most expensive technology first.&#160; Using other technologies," suggested Baker.<br><br>He noted that a year from now, people will be starting to enroll into Affordable Care Act exchanges, and some of the changes included in that legislation will start to take place. Baker spoke in Syracuse recently as part of a Health Foundation for Western and Central New York forum.</p>80no

Medicare will look different a year from now, as the Affordable Care Act goes into effect. But, Medicare advocates are worried about some potential changes to the program that pays for health care for the elderly.

Joe Baker is president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national non-profit that works towards affordable access to health care for older Americans. He told a group of health care advocates in Syracuse recently that the thing that worries him right now, is talk about how to make Medicare more financially stable.

"Most policy makers and legislators are using the phrase, like we need to make sure people with Medicare have more' skin in the game.' And what that means is they should be paying more for health care, and if they are paying more they will use less care and that will bring costs down," said Baker. "The problem with that is they will use less care, but they will use less necessary care because they won't be able to afford it."

Baker says the answer to Medicare's woes, is to cut costs, by doing things like having the government negotiate better prices for prescription drugs, and changing the way health care is delivered.

"Not paying for the latest, most expensive drug but looking at other effective therapies. Not using the most expensive technology first. Using other technologies," suggested Baker.

He noted that a year from now, people will be starting to enroll into Affordable Care Act exchanges, and some of the changes included in that legislation will start to take place. Baker spoke in Syracuse recently as part of a Health Foundation for Western and Central New York forum.

]]>Strenghtening New York state's assisted living industry<p>Governor Andrew Cuomo has proclaimed September "Assisted Living Month." The proclamation comes after state officials say more than two million New Yorkers will need some form of long term care by 2015.</p><p><!--break--><br>According to the Empire State Association of Assisted Living, there are about 500 licensed assisted living agencies in New York state and they're more affordable than in previous years. On average, services are less than half of the cost of a nursing home.<br><br>But Lisa Newcomb, executive director of the Assisted Living Association, says too often families don't consider assisted living options until the unthinkable happens.<br><br>"The person might be in the hospital and can't go home safely," Newcomb says.<br><br>Such a situation leaves the family scrambling to try to understand the best way to provide care.<br><br>Newcomb says with so many options available today it is important to explore them before a crisis, so that families can make the best educated decision about their loved one's care.<br><br>The National Census Bureau estimates that by 2050 the number of Americans over 65 years of age will be 88.5 million. That's more than double the current population.</p>Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:52:48 -0400http://www.wrvo.fm/post/strenghtening-new-york-states-assisted-living-industry
http://www.wrvo.fm/post/strenghtening-new-york-states-assisted-living-industry<p>Governor Andrew Cuomo has proclaimed September "Assisted Living Month." The proclamation comes after state officials say more than two million New Yorkers will need some form of long term care by 2015.</p><p><!--break--><br>According to the Empire State Association of Assisted Living, there are about 500 licensed assisted living agencies in New York state and they're more affordable than in previous years. On average, services are less than half of the cost of a nursing home.<br><br>But Lisa Newcomb, executive director of the Assisted Living Association, says too often families don't consider assisted living options until the unthinkable happens.<br><br>"The person might be in the hospital and can't go home safely," Newcomb says.<br><br>Such a situation leaves the family scrambling to try to understand the best way to provide care.<br><br>Newcomb says with so many options available today it is important to explore them before a crisis, so that families can make the best educated decision about their loved one's care.<br><br>The National Census Bureau estimates that by 2050 the number of Americans over 65 years of age will be 88.5 million. That's more than double the current population.</p>74no

Governor Andrew Cuomo has proclaimed September "Assisted Living Month." The proclamation comes after state officials say more than two million New Yorkers will need some form of long term care by 2015.

According to the Empire State Association of Assisted Living, there are about 500 licensed assisted living agencies in New York state and they're more affordable than in previous years. On average, services are less than half of the cost of a nursing home.

But Lisa Newcomb, executive director of the Assisted Living Association, says too often families don't consider assisted living options until the unthinkable happens.

"The person might be in the hospital and can't go home safely," Newcomb says.

Such a situation leaves the family scrambling to try to understand the best way to provide care.

Newcomb says with so many options available today it is important to explore them before a crisis, so that families can make the best educated decision about their loved one's care.

The National Census Bureau estimates that by 2050 the number of Americans over 65 years of age will be 88.5 million. That's more than double the current population.

]]>Syracuse seniors adjust to a year without Ida Benderson Center<p>The Syracuse Salvation Army is taking senior citizens to the New York State Fair this week.&#160; It’s the kind of thing the Salvation Army has been trying to do since the city closed its own senior center. But the merging of seniors from the two centers has been an adjustment for some. &#160;</p><p><!--break--><br>Since Syracuse's Ida Benderson Senior Center closed down about a year ago, seniors have been encouraged to use the Salvation Army on South Warren Street for social activities.<br><br>George Mosley volunteered for nine years at Ida Benderson where plans were kept loose.&#160; He says it took some time to get use to the Salvation Army where activities are much more structured, but now he likes it.<br><br>"Ida Benderson was a think-out-of-the-box type place.&#160; This place everything is right here, right there, and it's simple to get to."<br><br>Linda McNally, the Director of Adult Day Services at the Salvation Army, says twice as many seniors are participating in their program since the Benderson Center closed.&#160; The Salvation Army is now serving about 80 to 100 seniors a day.<br>&#160;<br>"I think seniors that were here learned that there are a whole lot more seniors out there and it kind of gave us a lift, too.&#160; Wow, some new people and they want to do some different kinds of things, this is really cool."</p><p>Some seniors would still like to see the Ida Benderson Center come back.<br><br>"You can't never say that you don't miss where you came from, because we do miss it," said one former visitor to the Benderson Center.<br><br>A strapped Syracuse city budget caused funding for the Benderson Center to be cut, and the center to be closed. The common council unanimously passed a budget that restored money for the center. But Mayor Stephanie Miner protested the additional spending. &#160;<br><br>&#160;</p>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:34:55 -0400http://www.wrvo.fm/post/syracuse-seniors-adjust-year-without-ida-benderson-center
http://www.wrvo.fm/post/syracuse-seniors-adjust-year-without-ida-benderson-center<p>The Syracuse Salvation Army is taking senior citizens to the New York State Fair this week.&#160; It’s the kind of thing the Salvation Army has been trying to do since the city closed its own senior center. But the merging of seniors from the two centers has been an adjustment for some. &#160;</p><p><!--break--><br>Since Syracuse's Ida Benderson Senior Center closed down about a year ago, seniors have been encouraged to use the Salvation Army on South Warren Street for social activities.<br><br>George Mosley volunteered for nine years at Ida Benderson where plans were kept loose.&#160; He says it took some time to get use to the Salvation Army where activities are much more structured, but now he likes it.<br><br>"Ida Benderson was a think-out-of-the-box type place.&#160; This place everything is right here, right there, and it's simple to get to."<br><br>Linda McNally, the Director of Adult Day Services at the Salvation Army, says twice as many seniors are participating in their program since the Benderson Center closed.&#160; The Salvation Army is now serving about 80 to 100 seniors a day.<br>&#160;<br>"I think seniors that were here learned that there are a whole lot more seniors out there and it kind of gave us a lift, too.&#160; Wow, some new people and they want to do some different kinds of things, this is really cool."</p><p>Some seniors would still like to see the Ida Benderson Center come back.<br><br>"You can't never say that you don't miss where you came from, because we do miss it," said one former visitor to the Benderson Center.<br><br>A strapped Syracuse city budget caused funding for the Benderson Center to be cut, and the center to be closed. The common council unanimously passed a budget that restored money for the center. But Mayor Stephanie Miner protested the additional spending. &#160;<br><br>&#160;</p>79no

The Syracuse Salvation Army is taking senior citizens to the New York State Fair this week. It’s the kind of thing the Salvation Army has been trying to do since the city closed its own senior center. But the merging of seniors from the two centers has been an adjustment for some.

Since Syracuse's Ida Benderson Senior Center closed down about a year ago, seniors have been encouraged to use the Salvation Army on South Warren Street for social activities.

George Mosley volunteered for nine years at Ida Benderson where plans were kept loose. He says it took some time to get use to the Salvation Army where activities are much more structured, but now he likes it.

"Ida Benderson was a think-out-of-the-box type place. This place everything is right here, right there, and it's simple to get to."

Linda McNally, the Director of Adult Day Services at the Salvation Army, says twice as many seniors are participating in their program since the Benderson Center closed. The Salvation Army is now serving about 80 to 100 seniors a day.

"I think seniors that were here learned that there are a whole lot more seniors out there and it kind of gave us a lift, too. Wow, some new people and they want to do some different kinds of things, this is really cool."

Some seniors would still like to see the Ida Benderson Center come back.

"You can't never say that you don't miss where you came from, because we do miss it," said one former visitor to the Benderson Center.

A strapped Syracuse city budget caused funding for the Benderson Center to be cut, and the center to be closed. The common council unanimously passed a budget that restored money for the center. But Mayor Stephanie Miner protested the additional spending.